FDA finds Salmonella, Listeria monocytogenes in ANSWERS raw dog foods. Issues Advisory

September 23, 2024

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today issued an Advisory to pet owners, recommending that they not feed certain ANSWERS raw dog foods to their pets.

The FDA collected and analyzed unopened retail samples of these products following receipt of three consumer complaints about sick dogs.

Two of the following products were found to be contaminated with Salmonella, one with Listeria monocytogenes, and one with both Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes. All four products were packaged in 4-lb. (half-gallon) cartons.

Answers Pet Food Raw Beef Detailed Formula for Dogs
- UPC/bar code number: 856554002102
- BUBD: May 06 2026
Answers Pet Food Raw Beef Straight Formula for Dogs
- UPC/bar code number: 856554002072
- BUBD: Jan 31 2026
Answers Pet Food Straight Chicken Formula for Dogs
- UPC/bar code number: 856554002065
- BUBD: Jan 02 2026
Answers Pet Food Straight Chicken Formula for Dogs
- UPC/bar code number: 856554002065
- BUBD: Mar 11 2026

ANSWERS raw pet foods are manufactured by Lystn LLC. The products are sold on-line and in retail stores across the United States.

Company voluntarily withdraws products

Lystn, LLC, dba ANSWERS Pet Food announced a voluntary withdrawal of the four contaminated product batches, but stopped short of initiating a full recall. In announcing the product withdrawal, the company took pains to state that, “No illnesses associated with these lots have been confirmed.“

The FDA has not revealed whether one or more of the BUBD dates of the products in which it found Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes corresponds to products consumed by the sick dogs. (Note: ANSWERS does not use lot codes. Instead, a “Best If Used By” date (BUBD) is stamped on each package.)

Why did the FDA issue an Advisory?

As is usual in this type of situation, the FDA requests/recommends that a manufacturer initiate a voluntary product recall. This action triggers a standard oversight and follow-up by the agency to ensure that all of the contaminated product has been removed from the marketplace. The FDA also oversees the safe disposal of recalled product that has been recovered by the manufacturer.

In this instance, the company has declined to initiate a formal recall.

Due to concerns that a product withdrawal might not be adequate to ensure the safety of pets and their human companions, the FDA has reached out directly to consumers, explaining that, “To date, the firm has not initiated an adequate recall of the affected products.“

What the FDA wants consumers to know

If you have any of the Answers Pet Food products listed above, stop feeding it to your pets and throw it away in a secure container where other animals, including wildlife, cannot access it. Do not donate the food.

The Best Used By Date can be found on a sticker on the carton. If you no longer have the packaging or can’t read the Best Used By Date, throw the food away.

Consumers who have had these products in their homes should clean and disinfect all pet supplies, including all storage containers, bowls, utensils, food prep surfaces, pet bedding, litter boxes, toys, floors, and any other surfaces that the food or pet may have had contact with, including your refrigerator or freezer. Clean up the pet’s feces in places where people or other animals may become exposed. Consumers should thoroughly wash their hands after handling the product or cleaning up potentially contaminated items and surfaces.

How to report a pet illness to the FDA

People who think their pets have become ill after consuming contaminated pet food should first contact their veterinarians. Veterinarians who wish to have pets tested for Salmonella and L. mono may do so through the Veterinary Laboratory Investigation and Response Network (Vet-LIRN Network) if the pet is from a household with a person infected with Salmonella or L. mono.

The FDA encourages consumers to report complaints about pet food products electronically through the Safety Reporting Portal. Additionally, consumers can visit the SmartHub – Safety Intake Portal – Report a Product Problem (fda.gov) to obtain electronic assistance with submitting a report.

“A complete and compelling account of the hidden and not-so-hidden ways the food we give our beloved pets can be contaminated.” – JoNel Aleccia, Health Reporter, Food & Nutrition, The Associated Press.

“An invaluable resource for busy pet owners” – Food Safety News

Available from all major on-line retailers, including:

Whiskas® Cat Food Recall – Canada

Mars Petcare Canada is recalling a number of Whiskas® dry cat food products due to a raw ingredient quality issue.

Mars Petcare has not received any consumer complaints related to this issue.

The voluntary recall is limited to the following list of products.

Product Description	UPC	Best by dates
WHISKAS MEATY SELECTION Dry Cat Food With Real Chicken 12X670G	0 58496 43320 8	6/13/2022 – 7/19/2022
WHISKAS MEATY SELECTIONS Dry Cat Food With Real Chicken, 2kg Bag	0 58496 70322 6	6/23/2022-8/12/2022
WHISKAS MEATY SELECTIONS Dry Cat Food With Real Chicken, 4kg Bag	0 58496 70124 6	7/17/2022-8/12/2022
WHISKAS MEATY SELECTIONS Dry Cat Food with Real Chicken, 9.1kg Bag	0 58496 70329 5	6/16/2022-8/17/2022
WHISKAS MEATY SELECTIONS Dry Cat Food with Real Chicken 11.6kg Bag	0 58496 44481 5	6/24/2022-7/22/2022
WHISKAS Dry Cat Food Beef Selections Natural Beef Flavour, 2 kg, Bag	0 58496 43351 2	6/25/2022-8/6/2022
WHISKAS Dry Cat Food – Beef Flavour, 9.1kg Bag	0 58496 43353 6	8/13/2022
WHISKAS SEAFOOD SELECTIONS Dry Cat Food With Real Salmon, 2kg Bag	0 58496 70332 5	6/25/2022-8/18/2022
WHISKAS SEAFOOD SELECTIONS Dry Cat Food With Real Salmon, 4kg Bag	0 58496 02681 3	8/9/2022-8/10/2022
WHISKAS Dry Cat Food – Indoor With Real Chicken, 3kg Bag	0 58496 42153 3	7/19/2022
WHISKAS Dry Cat Food Indoor With Real Chicken, 1.5 kg, Bag	0 58496 23285 6	6/23/2022-7/19/2022
WHISKAS Dry Cat Food With Real Tuna, 9.1 kg Bag	0 58496 43469 4	6/25/2022-8/7/2022
WHISKAS Dry Kitten Food With Real Chicken, 1.5 kg Bag	0 58496 70310 3	7/18/2022
WHISKAS SEAFOOD SELECTIONS Dry Cat Food With Real Salmon, 9.1kg Bag	0 58496 42152 6	6/26/2022- 8/13/2022

The UPC and Best by dates are printed on the front of the package, as shown in this photo.

The affected products were manufactured in Canada and distributed to retailers across Canada.

Pet food for domestic consumption not regulated in Canada

Pet food imported into Canada from other countries must meet specific safety standards. Likewise, pet food manufactured in Canada for export to the United States, the United Kingdom, and the European Union must meet the food safety standards for those countries.

However, pet food and pet treats manufactured in Canada and distributed solely in Canada is not subject to food safety inspection or regulation by any Canadian government authority.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency and Health Canada will only post recall notices for pet foods and pet treats in the event of a risk to human health.

For more information

Consumers with questions about the recall are encouraged to call the company’s consumer care team at 1-800-667-2424 between the hours of 9:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. EST weekdays and 9:00 a.m. – 5 p.m. EST on weekends or visit https://www.whiskas.ca/en/update.

OUTBREAK ALERT AND PRODUCT RECALL: Listeria monocytogenes in pre-cooked chicken

One person is dead and two more have been hospitalized in a multi-state outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes according to a report released last night and updated today by the US Centers for Disease Contol and Prevention (CDC).

All three outbreak victims were either living in a long-term care facility or were already hospitalized at the time they became infected.

Two of the cases, including the single fatality, are in Texas. The remaining case is in Delaware.

Victims range in age from 60 to 95, with a median age of 89 years old. Two of the three are male.

The CDC warns that the true number of infected people may be higher, and the outbreak may not be limited to Texas and Delaware.

The outbreak strain was recovered from two samples of precooked chicken products during routine sampling conducted by the US Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS).

One of the positive samples was produced by Tyson Foods Inc. in Dexter, MO. The producer of the second sample to test positive for the outbreak strain has not yet been named.

Tyson recalls 4,246 TONS of pre-cooked chicken products

Tyson has recalled approximately 8,492,832 pounds of ready-to-eat (RTE) chicken products produced between December 26, 2020 and April 13, 2021 and bearing the establishment number, EST. P-7089.

The recalled products include frozen, fully cooked chicken strips, diced chicken, chicken wing sections, and fully cooked pizza with chicken and were sold under multiple brand names, including: Tyson, Jet’s Pizza, Casey’s General Store, Marco’s Pizza, and Little Caesars.

These items were shipped nationwide to retailers and institutions, including hospitals, nursing facilities, restaurants, schools and Department of Defense locations. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

Consumers and food handlers should take additional care when preparing dishes that included pre-cooked chicken, especially when the food will be offered to the elderly or to immunocompromised individuals, including pregnant women.

What businesses need to know

Do not serve or sell recalled products.
Long-term care facilities, hospitals, and other facilities that serve people at higher risk for severe Listeria illness should take extra precautions. Listeria is particularly harmful to people who are 65 years or older, pregnant, or have a weakened immune system.
All of the sick people in this outbreak ate foods served at a long-term care facility or hospital.
Follow USDA-FSIS guidelines to prevent the spread and growth of Listeria.

What consumers need to know

Do not eat any recalled products. Throw them away or return them to where you bought them.
Follow these five steps to clean your refrigerator, containers, and surfaces that may have touched the recalled products. Listeria can survive in the refrigerator and can easily spread to other foods and surfaces.
Call your healthcare provider right away if you have these symptoms after eating recalled products.
- If you are pregnant: Fever and muscle aches. Your illness may be mild, but Listeria can cause pregnancy loss or premature birth. It can also cause serious illness or death in newborns.
- If you are not pregnant: Headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and convulsions, in addition to fever and muscle aches.